Taipei August 2011

As usual, we spent part of the summer in Taiwan. This year, instead of staying in Dan Shui, we spent three weeks in the old Taipei apartment, the place where brenda grew up. Though we all love living out by the river in Dan Shui, it was really exciting being back in the city. After school and on weekends, we took the boys on outings around Taipei and enjoyed many of brenda's favorite childhood snacks (shaved ice, guai guai, bakery goods, fish "laces"...). Ama moved the entire Dan Shui house to Taipei in order to spend these three weeks with us, Agong cut down his golf outings to a mere once a week, and Azo left Taichung and stayed in Taipei for over a month to get in more time with her "a-sa-la" (great grandkids). We are so grateful for everything you've done to help make our summer so fulfilling and wonderful. Nothing can beat waking up each morning and sharing breakfast across four generations.

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Brunei August 2011

Every year, we drop the kids off with Ama and Agong and take a trip, just the two of us, to celebrate being together. This year - our fourteenth - we went to Brunei. For the first few days, we never left our hotel and it was absolute heaven, talking, relaxing, lounging, doing nothing but being with each other. Our last day, we were lucky to hook up with Doreen, one of Jen's friends, who is a native Bruneian. Doreen's family took us to all their favorite eateries and Doreen took us on a tour of the mosques and river village of her hometown. It was the most perfect 4-day getaway. Meanwhile, back in Taipei, Ama and Agong kept the boys well entertained, taking them to the zoo, to go swimming, to the top of Taipei 101, and for a ride around the Miramar ferris wheel. Mom and Dad weren't missed TOO much!

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